Harvard vs. F&M

Should I go to Harvard University or Franklin and Marshall College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harvard or F&M is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Harvard University vs. Franklin and Marshall College comparison
Harvard University Franklin and Marshall College College 3 College 4
Harvard University Franklin and Marshall College
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Overview

 Harvard F&M
Location Cambridge, MA Lancaster, PA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 30,631 1,990
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #4 #56
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harvard.edu fandm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Harvard F&M
Tuition (In State) $52,659 $65,652
Tuition (Out of State) $52,659 $65,652
Room & Board $19,502 $15,040
Avg Net Price $19,491 $31,135
Avg Grant Aid $61,801 $49,177
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 63%

Admission

 Harvard F&M
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 61,221 8,923
Admitted 1,984 3,233
Acceptance Rate 3.2% 36.2%
Enrolled % 83% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 -
Typical High School Grades A/A+ -
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 34/36 30/33
SAT Range 1490/1580 1310/1440
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Harvard F&M
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 Harvard F&M
Graduation Rate 97% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $136,700 $61,900
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,500 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $67 $227

Diversity

 Harvard F&M
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 59%
% Black 6% 6%
% Hispanic 10% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 2%
% International 11% 14%
% Unknown Race 3% 6%

Students

 Harvard F&M
% In-State 15% 25%
% Out-of-State 69% 53%

Campus

 Harvard F&M
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Harvard University is larger than than F&M based on total student enrollment (30,631 students vs. 1,990 students)

Harvard vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or F&M?

  • Franklin and Marshall College is 24.7% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($65,652.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.7% higher at F&M than Harvard University ($65,652.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than F&M ($19,491 vs. $31,135)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 29.7% lower than costs at Harvard University ($15,040 vs. $19,502)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than Harvard University (63% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 25.7% larger than aid received Franklin and Marshall College ($61,801 vs. $49,177)

Harvard vs. F&M Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or F&M? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between F&M or Harvard .

  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (36.2%) than Harvard (3.2%)

Harvard vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harvard or F&M? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between F&M and Harvard.

  • The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than Franklin and Marshall College (97% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $74,800 more per year than F&M graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $61,900)
  • Harvard University students graduate with a $15,500 lower median federal student loan debt than F&M graduates. ($6,500 vs. $22,000)
  • Harvard graduates are paying $160 less per month on federal student loans than F&M graduates. ($67 vs. $227)
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/